Author Archives: Jim Small

Ray Rottas generally flew below the political radar, both when he served as a state senator and the state treasurer during the 1970s and 80s, but those close to him say his impact on Arizona public policy remains to this day, and his death last month leaves a void in Arizona politics.

Attorney General Tom Horne has announced his office has opened an investigation into the Independent Redistricting Commission in response to an investigation by Arizona Capitol Times and its sister publication, Yellow Sheet Report, that uncovered possible violations of the state’s open meeting and procurement laws.

After marijuana was discovered in a bathroom in a restricted area of the Arizona Corporation Commission offices, Chairman Gary Pierce today asked his fellow commissioners to consent to drug tests and a search of their offices by a drug-sniffing dog.

Lawmakers made a difficult decision when they cut more than $200 million from the state’s health care system for the poor, but doing so wasn’t unconstitutional, Senate President Russell Pearce and House Speaker Andy Tobin argued yesterday in a brief opposing a lawsuit that aims to block the cuts.

A Republican state representative with a history of making controversial statements today called for the state Senate to exercise a constitutional provision and remove a Democratic legislator he deemed “a cancer.”

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld an Arizona law that allows the state to suspend or revoke the business licenses of companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants, paving the way for other states to establish similar systems.

The Fiesta Bowl shouldn’t expect to be receiving a check from U.S. Senator Jon Kyl any time soon, as he has rejected a request from the beleaguered bowl to return political contributions made by its employees.

A group of frustrated voters from across the political spectrum is hoping to reform the way the nation elects its president, and Arizona will be on the front lines in that fight next year. The only question remaining is whether the state’s conservative lawmakers are willing to abandon the current constitutionally established election method that is as old as the nation.

It may be nearly 40 months away, but the Republican primary contest for governor in 2014 has officially begun. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Ken Bennett formally filed the paperwork to create an exploratory committee for governor.